Photographic-printing machine.



G. A. LEY.

PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED O0T.18,1909.

984,096, Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LEY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14; 1911'.

Application filed October 18, 1909. Serial No. 523,323.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

lie it. known that I, Gnonon A.-. Luv, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend. in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic- ]?rinting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in photographic printing machines.

The primary object. of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means for holding the pressure-back in contact with the sensitized paper and negative. and to lock the same l1] position.

Av further object resides in the provision of easily opcratedmeans for locking the pressureback. in operative position, so as to obviate the necessity of using manual effort to so hold the pressure-back during the printing operation.

A further ob 'ect resides in the provision of locking means for pressure-baclzs of photographic printing machines, which. is simple and positive in operation, and capable of manipulation by a single movement to lock or unlock the same, in order that great speed may be obtained by the operator in placing the sensitized paper in the machine and taking the exposed paper therefrom.

Vith this and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the construction hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the. claims, it being understood that clningesmay be mace in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the irit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1. is a perspective view, showing a complete machine with the pressureback out of operative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the pressure-back in operative position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the means for locking the pressure back in operative position in detached relation. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the pressure-bar and pressure-back in operative relation with the locking means in operative position, the dotted lines showing the manner of raising the outer section of the pressure bar to detach or unlock the same. F 5 is an enlarged side detached view of a spring catch which forms one of the means for locking the pressure bar in operative position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanyingdrawings, 1 represents a box, which may be of any suitable form, and 2 indicates electric lamps-disposed within the box and connected in circuit and controlled by means ofa switch (not shown) which is normally held open by any suitable means. A. pin 2) is operatively connected tosaid switch and projects through the casing of the box. When this pin is-depressed by a n'essurebar, the function of which will be hereinafter explained, it switches on the lights. The switch isof a type which will automatically open when pressure 011 the pin is released.

4: is a rectangular frame provided with shoulders 5 to supporta negative, andhaving an open inner side in communication with the light chamber in order to expose the negative to the light. The upper side of said frame is also open, and hinged at 6 iS a two part pressure back consistingof the sections 7 and 8 hinged together in any suitable manner. This back is provided with a handle 9 for use in opening and closing the same, the same being shown open in Fig. 1 and closed in Fig. 2. A pressurebar is hinged to the frame by means of any suitable hinge 10, said bar consisting of two parts 11 and 12, connected together by a spring hinge 13. the tension of the spring on said hinge tending to normally hold the two parts of the bar in alinement, as-shown in full lines in Fig. 4-. Secured to the under I side of the part 12 ofthe pressure. bar is an L-shaped metal member 1a which is adapted to contact with the beveled upper edge 15 of the catch 16, which is pivoted at 17 and normally held at its extreme outward movement, which is limited by a keeper 18, by a coil spring 19 disposed between the catch and the plate 20. Secured to the under side of the pressure bar member 12 are two plate springs 21 and 22, adapted to exert a downward pressure upon the pressure-back when the bar is forced into locked position. The plate with which are integrally formed the keeper 18 and the laterally extending arms 23, to which the spring catch 16 is pivoted, is secured to the side of the frame 4t by screws or any other suitable fastening means.

The reference character 10 indicates a stop to limit the outward swing of the part 11 of the pressure bar, so that the bar will be held in a convenient position for manipulation, slightly out of the vertical. The stop 10 also protects the hinged end from being broken because the pressure bar cannot he accidentally dropped when swung outwardly to the extent of breaking the hinge l0.

24L represents a plug and its wire connec-- tion with the lamps in the case, adapted to be attached to a corresponding socket on an electric circuit to supply current for the lamps.

In operation, the operator of the machine places the negative from which the prints are to be made in the frame, a sheet of sensitized paper is next placed upon the negative and the pressure back is closed. The pressure-bar is next lowered and forced down until the locking member on the under side thereof forces the spring catch inwardly and passes the offset: thereon, when the catch springs back into its normal position, and securely locks the bar in place, as cl arly shown in Fig. The springs 21 and 22 on the pressure bar being under tension when the bar is locked in position, the latter imparts a downward pressure upon the pressure-back and thus produces a proper contact between the print and the negative. After the print has been exposed the requisite length of time, the pressure bar is released by simply exerting pressure upwardly upon the outer member thereof,

which will cause same to break at the point at which it is hinged, as shown in dotted lines Fig. l, and the unlocking thereof is easily and quickh accomplished, and with a minimum amount of exertion and manipulation.

In order to permit the pressure-back to be raised or lowered in a single operation, the same is connected with the pressure-bar by double hinge 25 as shown in Fig. at. This connection also permits the section 8 of the pressure-back to be raised a considerable distance before the section 7 starts to l l l l l l l l i l raise, and conversely when the same is lowered, which enables the operator to properly position the print paper upon the nega tive and grip the paper with the section 7 before the other section is finally lowered.

{hat is claimed is 1. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a box having a light compartment and a source of light therein, a negative receiving frame secured to the box and communicating with the light compartment, a pressure-back hingedly connected to said frame, a locking element on said frame, a two-part pressure bar hingedly secured to said frame, and a locking element carried by one part of said bar for cooperative engagement with the aforesaid locking element, said parts of the bar being hinged at a point adjacent the locking element of the box whereby the locking element of the bar may be released therefrom by elevating the part of the bar to which the bar locking element is secured.

2. In a. photographic printing machine, the combination with a box having a light compartment and a source of light therein, a negative receiving frame secured to the box and communicating with the li ht compartment, a pressure-back hingedly connected to said frame, a locking element on said frame, and a two-part pressure bar hingedly secured to said frame, said bar having its parts hingedly conected together and one part carrying means for cooperative engagement with said locking element and projecting beyond the box and said locking element, whereby the project ing part may be elevated to release the bar from tl locking element.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. LEY.

Witnesses CHARLES DE LUxDnRs,

G. M. COLE. 

